Down Syndrome

What Is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes delays in physical
and intellectual development. It occurs in one in every 733 live births
according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Individuals with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual
46, having an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. Even though people with
Down syndrome might have some physical and mental features in common,
symptoms of Down syndrome can range from mild to severe. Usually, mental
development and physical development are slower in people with Down
syndrome than in those without it. It is the most frequently occurring
chromosomal disorder. Down syndrome is not related to race, nationality,
religion or socioeconomic status. The most important fact to know about
individuals with Down syndrome is that they are more like others than
they are different.

Physical Characteristics

An abnormally small chin

An unusually round face

Oversized tongue

An almond shape to the eyes caused by an epicanthic fold of the eyelid.